Sunday, February 19, 2012

Rate My Teacher Comment

Let's face it, teachers. We're in a day when teachers are increasingly seen as public enemy number one. I am a veteran teacher who has earned awards for my work. I have a masters in English and have been approached in public restaurants by former students who have told me how much I meant to them during their developmental high school years. One young man had tears in his eyes, and we embraced then. My wife told me that no one in the private sector knows what that moment is like. She's right. However, this Rate My Teacher has become a sounding board for the underachieving student who feels maligned. If students looking back at say, age 25 (once reflection occurs in the adult), were allowed to post comments that required a name, then the site would have credibility. I personally have two positive comments and two negative comments on my rating. The one comment I know came from a student who was not permitted to turn in a paper late without a penalty, because I stand on the principle that the group and its fair treatment trumps the rights of the individual, no matter how much a student may see his or her treatment as 'unfair.' It's that notion that has seemingly lost popularity in America, a country where at times it appears that raising our young has gone off track. I point at the droves of helicopter parents who interfere with the maturation and seasoning of their children by taking issue with teachers who are teaching them life lessons in addition to an academic ones or skills. Conversely, some parents could care less because they are dealing with their own life issues--substance abuse, broken families, joblessness, etc. The summative effect of all this is that one of the last vestiges of authority--teaching--has become the whipping boy of today's society. Be careful what you wish for. Remember, a vacation from teaching 100 kids everyday is necessary for anyone who's done it. And, for the supporters of the super-rich right, just remember that making $50,000 isn't a sin. Teachers earn it with stress and in some districts, physical danger. Bad teachers exist. Bad lawyers exist. Bad plumbers, pilots, managers, etc. I have witnessed a few in my time, and yes, they were shown the door by concerned administrators doing their job. I will write plainly to close; I am tired of the vilification of teachers. I am currently applying for employment outside the field of teaching. When the value of doing what I do is trumped by wage freezes, pay cuts, invasive politicians, meddling legislation, and lawyer-happy parents, the job loses its appeal. I am confident I am not alone. And when the tipping point is reached and enough talented educators have either left or young aspiring professionals have avoided teaching, the schools may be staffed by mindless goons, like the blogger on this site who hates teachers and remains nameless.

13 comments:

I am a student, a senior in high school. You can say I'm that student that teachers either love or hate, and those who hate me can have some justified reasons such as me being a smartass. But honestly, I respect teachers and even enjoy making friends with the ones who understand my sense of humor. I've only ever hated two teachers and it wasn't because of school work because I'll be the first to admit that's my own fault, but because there have been verbal abuse involved. But I have to admit I respect this teacher here.

I went in to Adsense (click Adsense) at the bottom where their advertisements are place. Ticked off That the site promotes Racial intolerance, advocacy against and individual, group or organization and wrong the following in additional information:

This site (ratemyteacher)attacks teachers publicly as it allows ANYONE to post comments anonymously. There is NO accountability or responsibility for this site and it destroys people's reputation after years of GIViNG to the students.

By promoting your ads on this site, this helps the site in promoting unjust attacks on ALL teachers in the world. Please consider taking your ads down to show that google has strong moral ethics leading by example by promoting the future in a fair and positive way.

IF YOU AGREE TO THIS, DO THE SAME . If all of us unite together google may not support this site which is the reason for its existence to make money through ads.

Mate I respect what you're saying but there are teachers who take out their lack of entertainment on their students a teacher once because my skirt was slightly too short called me a prostitute another called me stupid because i am not great at spelling words correctly turns out I am dyslexic

As a teacher and rated as good at my last review, I find rate my teacher to be an unfair medium to voice an opinion. Firstly a lot of the messages posted either about myself or colleagues are from students with a grudge, thankfully however when a post like this happens a number of students who rated you stick up for you. Imagine the uproar if there was a rate my student. It just wouldn't happen teachers are professional and aware of the effects that this varient of bullying has on people. There is a proven, tried and tested means of voicing your opinion..... go to the principal or governing body. Rather than casting rumour and unproven fact, they will get to the truth of the issue. Teachers get things wrong, say stupid things and make mistakes, thats human nature. Lets remember to treat teachers like human's not robot's, we have families, problems outside of work too and everything that brings with it. Lets not use a forum like rate my teacher to score a few low blows. Be a grown up and deal with issues directly. All the best

Thank you to both the teachers and students who posted, I am the parent of a child about to go to secondary, it's a mine field of difficult choices and confusing information. As parents you look, ask and research your choices, the amount of information can be over wheeling or alarmingly absent, but ultimately you have to go with your gut and hope that where ever you choose will be the best long term prospect for your children ( not everybodies ) and that what ever problems they encounter will a hopefully make them a stronger more confident person. You soon learn that they are individuals and will choose a certain amount themselves which is part of their growing process however upsetting for parents ! Teachers have a tough job and it's seems many parents expect them to correct genetic deficiencies in their children, they have to find a balance between official requirements and compassionate, yet appropriate behaviour, it would be impossible to please all of the people all of the time and websites like this give a voice to the disgruntled minorities. It's a shame they exist as it frightens those in search of genuine information, I agree that problems should be discussed with Heads, govenors and other official bodies who have the power and experience to deal with the problem discreetly so lives are't ruined because of misunderstandings and personality clashes that happen as a normal part of life. . I'm not saying there aren't bad teachers, just that people should see the bigger picture when expressing opinions online where the people reading them have no idea what the history is , so it is a one sided opinion.

I also won awards for my work as an educator. I was a coach for other teachers and was even asked to work for Harvard. I love teaching. However, after being relentlessly bullied, I left. I opened a little tutoring business and struggle to make ends meet. I love my work but I hate not having the financial security I thought I would have while I studied to become a teacher. I could have done anything - doctor, lawyer, dentist, vet...I chose to be a teacher as I wanted to help young people reach their full potential. Yes, I see what you mean: If enough talented teachers leave, who will educate the kids...and who will get the blame for the 'bad education' then? Who will the parents, politicians and society in general turn to to support the next generation to become valued citizens? Stop rating teachers, start appreciating their effort.

I agree that some comments are immature even malicious and that some students are just venting there frustrations, but I don't see that as a reason to be upset because when you read these comments it becomes apparent what motivated the student to post the comment. There is a teacher on ratemyteachers who is genuinely malicious to his students, he has been reported to have constantly been picking on his students and to have made racist remarks, if I had stuck with this teacher I would have had a very unpleasant year so I am thankful to have been alerted on this from ratemyteachers. There is an issue America is facing with tenure and difficulties firing teachers brought up in the controversial documentary Waiting For Superman I can't agree completely with everything the movie says however I believe that a place to discuss teachers is a valuable resource, and I believe that ratemyteachers helps with this. I also think it improves the behavior of some of my classes when students learn of a teachers short temper they sometimes behave better.

"I point at the droves of helicopter parents who interfere with the maturation and seasoning of their children by taking issue with teachers who are teaching them life lessons in addition to an academic ones or skills. "

Well, **that's** a little arrogant. You're not welcome to teach life lessons to my child. As his parent, that's my job. Stick to math, please.

Then please teach them manners and basic life lessons so their teachers don't have to! I'm not a teacher but I am appalled by the number of parents who do not take the side of the teacher - no wonder these kids are so unpleasant in school. They are learning their 'life lessons' from parents who believe their children should get an award for being born. The majority of our generation's children are overindulged and incredibly arrogant for the very little they have achieved in life. I personally see no problem in these educated role-models (trained in shaping a student’s future) to have some say in what they learn about life. ‘Stick to math, please.’ Honestly, how narrow-minded!

My teacher keeps yelling at me because i chew gum and she lets everybody else chew gum and makes me write letters to her saying how sorry i am for shewing gum i mean seriously she is racist because i m another religon i HATE HER